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Visitor Center

Walk-ins are welcome! Open Weekdays (8am - 5pm) and Saturdays (10am - 4pm)Guided Tours beyond the visitor center and into the data center are available by submitting a Guided Tour request below.(Closed Sundays and holidays). For map and directions please click the following link:

Viewing the exhibits in the Visitor Center of the NWSC is a wonderful way to spend a morning or afternoon. Our exhibits offer an informative view of weather, climate, supercomputing and the broad spectrum of atmospheric research at a world-class science laboratory. Learn about current Earth science research spanning our planet's changing climate to the genesis of severe weather phenomena. Find out about computational science and see one of the fastest supercomputers in existence today.

Guided Tours:

Want to see a supercomputer up-close? Our docent provides a personalized tour to our supercomputer and the facility that keeps it running smoothly. You must be 14 years or older to attend a guided tour. Tours may last from 45-90 minutes and require continuous standing and walking, including several flight of stairs. Appropriate attire and footwear is required to tour the facility; no open toe shoes or high heels. Max tour size is 60 individuals.

Each Friday: A guided tour is available every Friday, beginning at 12:05 pm and is open to the public. Please arrive 5-10 minutes early to sign in. No need to complete a tour request, this is a walk-in, open to the public tour.

Custom Date and Time: We also offer private, guided tours at a date and time convenient for your group. Please choose an option that best fits your interest.

Student or Youth Group: Field trips to the NWSC are available to school, camp, club, homeschool and other youth groups Monday through Friday throughout the year. The typical field trip includes a short tour into the Supercomputer room (provided the attendees are 14 years of age or older) followed by exploring the interactive exhibits on your own in the Visitor Center. In the event your group is younger than 14 years old, our docent may be able to provide a presentation to compliment the hands-on exhibits and science activities in the visitor center. Our goal is to meaningfully engage students in science learning.

Private Tour: Private tours are perfect for business groups, community organizations, and other non-school specific groups. Private tours can be arranged Monday through Friday throughout the year. The NWSC Visitor Center contains a self-guided tour of interactive exhibits, which is generally not staffed, in addition to a docent-led tour of the facility. While all ages are welcome to explore the Visitor Center, a guided tour into the Supercomputer room requires the attendees to be 14 years of age or older.

Virtual Tour: A virtual field trip may be a great option for remote students to learn about Wyoming's Supercomputer. The virtual tour is conducted via Google Meet link, which joins your classroom to our docent in a live virtual video tour. Simply click the link to join the video call. Technology requirements: Chrome browser, webcam, speakers, internet.

Cancellations

To cancel a confirmed field trip, please contact the scheduler at least two weeks in advance of your confirmed date.

Chaperone Resources

Chaperone Guidelines

Stay with your assigned students at all times. Make sure that they know this expectation as well.

Instruct all your students to go immediately to the NWSC Security Desk if lost or separated from the group. The Security staff will ensure that the student is escorted back to his/her group promptly.

Students in middle school or younger are to be escorted to the restrooms.

Please turn off or mute your cell phone during the field trip as a courtesy to the NWSC staff.

Please help students use the NWSC’s recycling and trash bins.

Please model respectful behavior

Student Guidelines

Enter the building quietly and wait while your teacher or event leader signs in with the Security staff.

Because the NWSC is a place of business, please use inside voices at all times both in and outside the facility.

Always walk while inside the facility

Stay with your chaperone and group throughout the visit. If separated from your group, please go immediately to the NWSC Security Desk.

No climbing, running, jumping, or playing on the exhibits or benches.

OTHER GUIDELINES:

The facility is a smoke-free and vape-free environment

The facility is under surveillance

The NWSC is not responsible for lost or stolen items

The NWSC is not responsible for damage to vehicles in the parking lot

PROVIDE FEEDBACK ABOUT YOUR VISIT TO THE NWSC

Your comments are important to us. We would like to know about your visit to the NWSC and would appreciate feedback about your experience. You may text your comments to 321.684.NWSC (6972).You may also pick up a form at the Security desk at the NWSC during your visit, or use the Online Visitor Feedback Form. Thank you for your input.

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Inside the NWSC

Computer models work a little like following a recipe. For example, we take information—or data—about current weather conditions. Next, we add energy from the Sun, and we stir in the math that explains how the Sun’s energy causes the weather to change over time. The result is a model, and it can be used to predict what the weather will do next. This is known as a forecast.